"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust

Trying To Be Cool

America is no stranger to French culture. From Monet to Camus, Bardot to Brie cheese, the list of artists, philosophers, authors, filmmakers and culinary delights whose influence is felt here in the U.S. is long. Rock stars, however, weren't on that list until Phoenix burst onto the scene in 2009 with their smash hit album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. With hits including "1901" (best known for its "Falling, falling, falling," chorus) and "Lisztomania," the four members of Phoenix are breaking new ground as the first French rock band to conquer U.S. charts, and their star keeps on rising.

Vocalist Thomas Mars, bassist Deck d'Arcy, and guitarist Chris Mazzalai started out as teenagers in a garage band playing out of Mars' basement in the suburbs of Paris, France. Later on, Laurent Brancowitz, Mazzalai's older brother, permanently joined the band on guitar after the end of Darlin', a band that Brancowitz had formed with Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (best known for creating another French group, the duo Daft Punk).Little did the Phoenix fellows know then that they would go from practicing in a basement to hitting number one on Billboard charts in the States. D'Arcy, who started playing bass when he was 14, says early on he and his fellow band members had big ambitions.

"Back then we wanted to become like Iggy Pop, like a cool guy, like cool American guys," he recalls. "We wanted to be a big band and tour the U.S. and tour the whole world but when you get into it, you realize it’s going to be a bit more complicated than that."

Complicated, perhaps, but it's safe to say Phoenix can be described now as "cool guys." This year at Coachella they performed live with R. Kelly, who came on stage as a surprise guest. They did a mash-up of R. Kelly's "Ignition" and their own hit "1901." Later, R. Kelly did a remix of "Trying To Be Cool" from the band's newest album, Bankrupt!

Even though the band members grew up in France and are more comfortable speaking in their native tongue, their music is written and sung in English. D'Arcy attributes that to their early musical influences— bands from the U.S. and the UK like My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain. The French music they listened to at the time, says d'Arcy, seemed "cheesy."

"We try to come up with songs in French, but we never manage to finish it. Maybe one day we’ll do it, I don't know. It’s easier to write in English because there’s a language barrier that makes things more cryptic," he says. "Because it’s finite, it’s cryptic and poetic."

Sudden fame can be disorienting, but d'Arcy says the band's progressive rise feels natural: "The biggest step was that we went from just being a band in a basement to a band with an album. But after that, it was just like growing up."

Staying focused on performances, d'Arcy notes, keeps them grounded.

"We try to make it not just a better rock show," he says, "we try to add something new and have surprises as much as possible. It’s a lot of work, but we’re almost reaching it."

September 1, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, 7pm, $41

Southern Fried Swamp Rock

"The Bloody Angle", title track on The Bloody Angle's debut album The Bloody Angle is unmistakably influenced by Neil Young. The rest of the album maintains a distinct and unique quality, however. Their use of lap-steel guitars and gritty vocals makes you think you're running through the muck in the backwoods of the south. According to Matt Singleton, songwriter-producer, it was recorded onto tape using no edits, no grid, and no auto-tune. When it was done recording, the album was cut onto vinyl directly from the analog tape. Carl Rowatti, at Trutone Mastering Labs in New York, was the only person they knew of who still cuts like that.

The band wanted this eponymous album to have an overall theme that called back to the southern countryside during an older and more wild time. Their name comes from a section of the Confederate line at the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse during the Civil War, and the title track is an illustration of that battle, from a Confederate soldier's point of view.

Performing at The Southern with The Bloody Angle is The Deadmen, a rock and roll band from Washington D.C., who will be featuring their fellow Washingtonian Justin Jones.August 30, The Southern, 8pm, $8

A Labor Day Weekend Spectacular

Labor Day is everyone's last chance to celebrate the summer with a bang, spending time in the sun with family and friends. And, Wintergreen Resort is making sure you don't get away without doing all this season's activities. If you couldn't go on that big vacation or missed out on some of the fun in the sun, just go to Wintergreen this weekend and you'll have no regrets about your summer.

The festivities kick off Friday night with a bonfire at Discovery Ridge and live bands at The Edge. Then there's a wine festival, an arts and crafts showcase, scenic chairlift rides, movie night and an international music festival. The last day wraps up at Monocan Lake with a blindfold beach relay, swim/climb challenge, blindfolded sand wedge chipping and a hula hoop contest. There's going to be a wide array of kids activities scheduled like a Build-A-Bear station, tie-dye t-shirt making, and face painting. August 30-Sept 1, Wintergreen Resort, All day.

Lockn' Pre-Party

Keller Williams is a one-man jam band of unlimited layers, using his Gibson Echoplex Digital Pro looping unit and his custom-made ten-string guitar to weave and build upon eccentric, quirky, half-improvised medleys. His tenor singing voice is familiar and inviting, combined with his music, makes for an uplifting and surreal performance. After the Pre-Party show at The Jefferson, his band Keller and the Keels will be performing the next day at Lockn' Festival.

Pegi Young, wife of the famous Neil Young, got her start in the music business as her husband's backup singer on stage and on record. She debuted as a solo artist in 2007 with a self-titled album that Allmusic.com described as, “Loose, relaxed, and flows from beginning to end.” The album features guest appearances from Neil Young, Marty Stuart, The Jordinaires, and includes songs by Joe Sample, Jimmy Buffet, and Will Jennings. Pegi Young & The Survivors are performing at the Lockn' Festival on Friday, September 6.Sept 4, The Jefferson, 7pm, $18

THE LIST

We're Bored!

Stuff to do with kids..

Harvest Festival

It’s been a productive year for First Colony Winery, the grapes are harvested and they’re ready to celebrate. Ever see that episode of I Love Lucy when they stomp grapes in Italy? You’ll get a chance to experience that for yourself at First Colony this Labor Day weekend. They’re serving a hearty harvest lunch with live music, wine tasting, grape stomping, tractor rides, winery tours, and a souvenir wine glass. But, space is limited, so get your tickets today.Saturday-Sunday, August 31-September 1 at 12pm at First Colony Winery. 434-979-7105. $0-$25

Taste Of The Mountains Street Festival

Madison Chamber of Commerce is bringing you live entertainment, shopping, food vendors, pony rides, antique cars and a re-enactment of Civil War camp life. The event started in 1992 as a heritage festival that celebrated the traditional mountain cultures of the 18th and 19th centuries in America and in 1999, it was named one of the top 20 festivals in the southeastern region.Saturday, August 31 at 9am at Main Street Madison. 540-948-4455. Free.

Women's Four-Miler

This is Virginia's largest all-women's event with 3,500 ladies participating. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join in. The race is routed through a four-mile scenic course in western Albemarle— be sure to cheer on your family and friends from the sidelines. For the 21st straight year, proceeds will benefit the UVA Cancer Center Breast Care Program. Race registration is full, but you can still make a donation to help them reach their $400,000 goal.Saturday, August 31 at 8am at Garth Road. 434-293-6115. Free to attend.

September 4Art: European Modern: Master Artists from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. William King Museum in Abingdon. All day. FreeTheater: Othello Preview. Blackfriars Playhouse. 7:30pm. FreeComedy: Improv Comedy For Beginners. Play On Theater. 7pm. Free

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Sept 14th, McIntire Plaza Fall Festival & Open House, McIntire Plaza (Allied St), 2p-6p, Free.
Join us on September 14th, 2013 to explore and celebrate one of Charlottesville's most creative and unique business communities. We'll have exhibits, music, art, food, massage, a fashion show, demonstrations, yoga on the wall, and many other fun activities featuring some of the over 70 local businesses tucked away at McIntire Plaza. More information at: http://www.facebook.com/McIntireFallFest

Sept. 5, Belk @ Fashion Square Mall is hosting the Big C New Me Survivors Council meeting 7-8pm, free. Open to all cancer survivors, the Survivors Council is an important arm of the national non-profit Big C New Me. This is your chance to be heard, have an impact on our programming for cancer survivors and caregivers and make a difference in someone's life. Belk is hosting and offering a discount shopping pass to all attendees and their chaperones. We will be electing officers at this meeting, so please be there if you would like to play a role. Visit our facebook page at www.facebook.com/bigcnewme

Michelle Busby September 3rd, 2013 | 12:09pm

Carmellos Italian restaurant has reopened in a new location. You can have Momma Stella’s delicious Italian Cuisine at: 400 Shopper’s World Court right next to Homegoods!